As colder months are approaching, American citizens will be spending more time indoors. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reported that on average, people stay indoors approximately 90 percent of their time.
Improving the air quality of homes becomes a top priority more than ever, due to the threat of Coronavirus disease. Since air is more concentrated in indoor spaces than outdoors, the virus remains suspended in the air for longer periods.
Apart from that, various health concerns come with staying indoors for too long. With no proper ventilation, the threat to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases increases.
What Is Indoor Air Pollution
When we talk about air pollution, people initially imagine car emissions and smog. These elements contribute to outdoor air pollution. Constant exposure to outdoor air pollution is dangerous.
But air pollution does not exclusively happen outdoors. Even in the comforts of our own homes, there could be air pollution.
Indoor air pollution refers to any contamination of the indoor air quality brought by physical, biological, or chemical elements. Indoor air pollution could lead to several adverse health effects if left unaddressed for a long time.
Millions of people all over the world are unaware that even the most mundane things we do, like preparing meals, could be a source of indoor air pollution. Fuel-burning appliances, in particular, release nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide.
What Are Its Health Impact
Continual exposure to indoor air pollution could be life-threatening. A review by Chest Journal in 2019 enumerated on the damaging health effects of air pollutants. Among the several health impacts brought indoor air pollution are diabetes, dementia, heart and lung diseases, and even fertility problems.
Importance of Healthy Air Quality at Home
Oftentimes we stress on matters such as allergies, regular health check-ups, and taking medicine daily. But we forgot the most fundamental thing that to achieve optimum health, breathing good quality indoor air is important.
Reducing exposure to common indoor air pollutants like radon, combustion pollutants, and secondhand smoke helps lessen asthma and even cancer. We all want to keep our family safe and healthy, and the best place to start is by cleaning the air in our homes.
Ways to Maintain Clean Indoor Air
There are many sources of indoor air pollution, but the most common ones are fuel-burning appliances, household cleaning items, and beauty products. Without us even knowing, our daily routine exacerbates the already low-quality air in our homes.
Nonetheless, we can help reduce, or better yet, eliminate indoor air pollution by practicing any of these easy to follow tips.
Increase in Ventilation. It could just be as simple as keeping windows wide open to let in the fresh air or hiring air duct cleaning services regularly to ensure that the indoor air is purified.
Put Indoor Greens. Apart from making the atmosphere in your home brighter, plants are great natural air filters, and they release a good amount of oxygen for your family.
Adopt Healthy Habits. Quitting your smoking habit not only promotes a healthier and cleaner indoor air quality, but you also help save your lungs.
Even the smallest things we do could make a huge difference. Start practicing ways to help reduce indoor air pollution in your home.
